Chicken killed with crossbow

A man who shot and killed a chicken with crossbow bolts was disqualified from keeping all animals for five years.

The defendant had uploaded videos of the incident onto his Snapchat account which were recorded by a member of the public who then contacted us. The videos showed the man shooting a tethered chicken with crossbow bolts.

The poor chicken had been tethered to a tree by her foot before four bolts were fired at her. The first two bolts bounced off the chicken and the other two stuck in. She was still alive at this stage and the defendant proceeded to pull both bolts out with the chicken whilst she struggled. The chicken suffered a high degree of pain before she died.

This was a serious offence of deliberate and gratuitous violence towards a chicken. The man filmed the act and posted it on social media, seeking to use the suffering for some sort of enjoyment or amusement.

Ignorant to the chicken's welfare

An independent vet confirmed the red Warren type chicken had been caused to suffer due to his actions. The hen would have experienced fear, distress and pain throughout the ordeal.

When questioned, the man said he didn't believe the chicken had suffered nor that he had done anything wrong.

In addition to the five-year disqualification, he was sentenced to 12 weeks imprisonment suspended for 12 months, ordered to undertake 200 hours of unpaid work and to pay £400 costs.